Please help me add character to this facade.

[rkthomas13]

If this is not the appropriate forum for my questions, please suggest where I might go for advice. I am neither architect nor builder, but have rehabbed a dozen or so houses over the years. I usually use an architect, but I prefer to have an idea of what I want, or don't want, before asking for plans. Usually I just try to give back to the house whatever appeal it might once have had, although in this case I must eventually enlarge it just to get room enough to turn around in.
This 1950 colonial in Arlington, Virginia appears originally to have had a brick facade to which this stone was added during or just after it was built. The outsized entry landing was enclosed probably at the same time, leaving only steps on the outside, no landing at all. Much too stark.
One suggestion is to take off the roof of the entry and make a wider angle, i.e. increase the distance between the high point of the entry and the roof.
1. Would you put some type of pediment over the entry?
2. Would you try to change the roof line to give it more interest?
3. How can I add contrast and color to the stone look?
Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

[JonBailey]

first thoughts at first glance


window height to cieling ratio at top of house seems out of proportion

have you thought about wrapping side porch to a new front porch area?

[lekizz]

1950??!! Don't you mean 1850??

It looks like an attractive property to me. All I would do is tidy up the garden and make it more attractive, add some colourful feature plants.

To be honest I didn't notice the lower windows at first. As a composition of three floors of windows it begins to look balanced. Maybe you need to emphasise the windows/door by painting the frames in a richer colour.

What are the surrounding houses like? are they similar?

[csintexas]

I agree with lekizz, it is basically a nice house. It just depends on how much you plan to do but I would say this house already has character.

Better paint colors, next time it needs a new roof I would pick something darker or metal if you have the money. The porch roof seems to be sagging a bit and the filled in garage door area could be better (move the AC)

Maybe it isn't so much that the windows are squeezed up too tight to the roof but that the roof fascia is a bit thin which tends to make it look a bit cheap.

[ahmeds]

fascia is required really and about the ac it should either be removed or hidden with some design.

[adailide]

First thing I see is that the upper level windows are right at the roof line. I would dormer those windows, it will add charachter to the roofline as well as make the facade look much cleaner.

Some clean-up of basic landscaping will do wonders.

Possibly tie together that garage wall, with the porch above. Off hand without being there I would say SOMETHING could be done to tie it all together and make it look cleaner.

Also, it seems to have several stone and brick textures going on, hard to remedy that without major cost, but making the difference less noticable will tie things together as well.

Finally, the roof over the entry could possibly be brought out a bit and form a covered entry area.

Although the house is a bit older, older homes have the best possibilities for looking great because of the detail and craftsmanship they have. Remember the house is old, and its still standing, there is a reason for that.

[kmapro]

I, personally, like the house as is - with the exception of the gawdy looks under the porch on the side of the house.

This looks to be of a French Colonial design to me. This style did tend to have the windows closer to the roof line and in some cases can be quite attractive.

I don't think I would dormer over the windows - unless you intended to project them out away from the structure via cantilever - but I don't think you want to go to that expense.

Absolutely no offense to the original poster on this thread - but this house has plenty of character for the design style it was created under. What you are seeing as a lack of character is just a lack of time period design on your part - as I stated no offense intended.

I think that if you changed anything on the actual home, you would be hurting the character and could possibly make this home less desirable.

I would spend my time and money restoring the porch and what appears to be a "carport" or "chariot garage" on the side.

Again - this is just my opinion.